MSC Japan together
When Fr. Chris Chaplin, MSC, one of the MSC General Leadership Team, arrived at our MSC convent in Nagoya on Satur- day, November 16, 2024, I was offering Mass at Sabae Catholic Church, one of three churches of Fukui Parish. The following day, Sunday, November 17, Fr. Frits Ponomban MSC and I (together from Indonesia) celebrated Sunday Mass with the con- gregation of Fukui Catholic Church. We received three cute babies into the Catholic Church during that Sunday Mass. Around 3 pm, Fr. Frits and I went to another parish, Tsuruga Catholic Church, to pick up Fr. Arun Kumar, MSC (from India). In one car, we went to the next parish, Kakamigahara Catholic Church, to meet Fr. John Graham MSC (from Australia) and Fr. Joey Mission MSC (from the Philippines), who had arrived there from Ogaki Catholic Church.
We went together by two cars to the RSCJ retreat house in Susono, Shizuoka Prefec- ture, and arrived there around 11 pm. We then met Fr. Priyo Susanto MSC (from Indonesia) at the front door, who had arrived earlier from Konan Catholic Church. Fr. Brian Taylor MSC and Fr. Kenji Konda MSC (both from Australia) also had arrived from Gifu Catholic Church. Fr. Chris, Fr. Keith Humphries MSC (from Australia), and Fr. Bern Tethool MSC (from Indonesia) had also arrived by car from Nagoya. Fr. Rey Tibon, MSC (from the Philippines), arrived at the retreat house from Johokubashi Catholic Church. So, twelve of the MSCs started that first-day retreat together in Susono.
Fr. Sadami Takayama, MSC (from Japan), arrived at the re- treat house from Shirayuri niversity on the fourth day. Thirteen of the MSC could meet again in the retreat house. On Friday, November 22, we renewed our vows during the closing Mass and had dinner together before we left the retreat house for Nagoya.
Brother Babetara Anetoka MSC (from Kiribati) renewed his vows during the 5 pm Mass on the first day of the MSC Japan Community 2024 Assembly. Fr. Toan Dinh Vinh MSC (from Vietnam) and Deacon Devid Abram MSC (from Indonesia) also participated in the Eucharist. Three of them could not join the retreat and the assembly because they had classes at the Center of Japanese Studies of Nanzan University. On the first day, November 25, we listened to reports and sharings from each confrere. On the second day, November 26, we read the MSC Japan Community’s Statutes in Japanese and English. Thanks for the open conversations.
Otsukaresamadeshita.
Carol Sompotan, MSC
